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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
10:44
Clean Sampling and Analysis of River and Estuarine Waters for Trace Metal Studies
Published on: July 1, 2016
Efficient preconcentration and separation of actinide elements from large soil and sediment samples
1Environmental Radioactivity Measurement Facility, Department of Oceanography, Florida State University, Tallahassee 32306, USA.
Analytical Chemistry
|October 31, 2000
Summary
A new method using Diphonix resin efficiently isolates actinides from large environmental samples. This technique minimizes chemical losses, improving the accuracy of radioactivity monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Radiochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Analyzing low-level man-made actinides in environmental samples (soil, sediment) requires large sample sizes (approx. 10g).
- Matrix interferences in large samples often lead to significant chemical losses during separation, hindering accurate radioactivity monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a robust technique for selective actinide collection from large environmental samples.
- To improve chemical recoveries and separation efficiency for actinides (Am, Pu, U, Th) in complex matrices.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Diphonix ion-exchange resin for selective adsorption of actinides and lanthanides at pH 1.
- Eluted actinides using 1-hydroxyethylidene-diphosphonic acid (HEDPA), followed by HEDPA destruction.
- Separated individual actinides using extraction chromatographic resins.
Main Results:
- Achieved selective collection of actinides and lanthanides using Diphonix resin.
- Demonstrated high and consistent chemical recoveries (mean, 85%) for Am, Pu, U, and Th.
- Obtained excellent chemical separations of actinides from soil and sediment matrices.
Conclusions:
- The Diphonix-based method offers a reliable approach for analyzing low-level actinides in large environmental samples.
- This technique overcomes matrix interferences, significantly improving accuracy in radioactivity monitoring.
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